by Geoff Cobb 
Some call it McGolrick Park, while many born and bred locals call it Winthrop Park. So what are you supposed to call it and why does the park have two names anyway? To answer these questions we need to explore the history of the pretty little nine-acre park.
The park was once swampy land on the Kingsland farm. You might have heard of…
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We always went to Winthrop park to take pictures of special events, communion,graduations, getting dressed up for Easter. I still have those old photos.
That park was my back yard for over 20 years. It has a special place in my heart. Always was called Winthrop Park
Still Winthrop no matter what
Should be officially renamed Winthrop Park.
Should have mentioned most recent playground renovation that was recently completed…..as depicted in last picture.
Please, for all to see, clarify how you pronounce the current name of the park. So many people say “McGorlick” … The name does not end with “LICK” it ends with “RICK”. MC GOL RICK maybe changing it back to Winthrop would be easier than getting people to say McGolrick correctly.
M Gol Rik
Two things I’ve always wondered about:
It seems very unusual for Victorians to name something in someone’s honor, but use their first name, as was done with Mr. Jones and his park.
I’ve never understood why locals are so attached to an 80 year-old former name, given that Jones seems to have been controversial at best and Fr. McGolrick was a beloved figure in the community for 50 years.
Good points Greg. People get used to things. The name Winthrop stuck and locals did not want to change.
I read that there was another park named after him called Jones Park so the first name was used.
The Original name was Winthrop Park.
Greg, if everyone decided to all of a sudden call you Sausage Boy, for instance, would you like that. They decide to call B’klyn, Queens South.
It’s Winthrop Park, Always will be.
I grew up in the big red house on the corner of Monitor and Nassau. Winthrop Park was my playground. The local kids would climb all over those statues and there were trees on the Russel St side that were perfect for climbing. What great memories !
I played in this park as a baby in second grade this was our walk to St. Cecelia’s school at 9 years old this is where we would meet our friends to play at 13 it’s where we hung out and meet kids from different area’s of Greenpoint I continued to hang out in this park through out my young life .. Needless to say WINTROP park holds a life time of precious memories for me
Hung out there most of the “dangerous 70s”. Many great memories of good times with friends that have passed on! It will always be Winthrop to me!
We lived on Diamond St a few blocks from Winthrop Park My mom would take me to the Park when I was 5 or 6. It was a delightful place where mom would meet neighbors or make friends with other moms. Across the way used to be a movie theater and a supermarket, A&P I believe. The grammar school I went to was St. Cecilia’s.
I lived in Greenpoint on Oakland Street and Played in McCarren Park and later on I went to High School in Ozone Park back then…. I now live in the South which I enjoy so much but I have so many fond memories of Greenpoint, Brooklyn